Lyra fails to imbue the cannon balls.

Niska gathers the children and makes a pit stop in the gun deck explains everything to Pat as well as Lyra before she casts seeming on the children to all look like older fishermen who carry various supplies.

"I ask you to come with us," Niska says as some of the kids laugh at each other lingering at Niska's side. "I have no idea if these people will honor their words but I have to try. For them," she adds gesturing towards the six children who all look 30 years older and twice as weathered!

"Right" Father Pat says before picking up his shield and heading up on deck to speak to Hrain. When he gets there he says "I' don't trust these blokes as far as I can throw them, which is not far enough!  I will go back below and watch. If they make a hostile move towards the boats, I'll open fire and then escape as best I can!"  

"Don't be crazy, Father Pat - we'll need those big arms of yours to row away from them at speed. At least bring some spare canvas with us so we can try and rig a makeshift sail."

"Nick is right, and it would be a hollow gesture, I doubt one or two shots would have much impact, the only question that remains is do we stand and fight or run like Niska, you all know what I wanted to do, but the fight was meant to protect those children not to kill the enemy. If Niska thinks she will keep them safe I hope she is right and they aren't all picked up minutes later for a lifetime of slavery." Looking out at the other boat he continues "I will be no man's slave, I will die first, sword in my hand and a prayer to the goddess on my lips." 

Father Pat looks at Hrain and says "I'm too old to be a slave. Perhaps we could together fight a rearguard action to give kids time to get away. The more I think about it, it was for a reason such as this - the safety of young children - that the Great Mother let me live after I lost my leg in battle! Let us stand together as comrades in arms and may Sunne look favourably on you as I am sure Chauntea will on me!"

(OOC: Father Pat has been in Half-plate on the ship. Does he have time while this discussion is going on to put on the other pieces to upgrade it to full plate)

OOC: Sure Grant!

Niska heads on deck then begins to load and  prepare to launch the life boats. It'll hold 22 medium size creatures and supplies. The children in their guises do not yet seem to be drawing attention as the enemy boat stays in position but is launching boats of their own! These boats are 60ft away and closing but the pirates show no open signs of hostility.

Nicknack furrows his brow, trying to keep his equilibrium in the midst of all the quick changes. Talking - fleeing - fighting... Being a smart little gnome didn't mean he liked trying to keep up with other people's craziness.

"If we're staying, then listen, Niska: row the boats away so that you keep this ship between you and the slaver for as long as possible. Let us be a shield for you as long as we can. Keep those kids safe, and may your Traveler get you safely to... wherever it is you're going."

He turns to the rest of the group from the prison in the Wastes. "Is this where we make our blaze of glory?"

Father Pat says Nicknack "defending the kids absolutely. Blaze of Glory that'll be a bonus!" as gets the rest of his armour on. "Is it better that someone else head back below and I'll stand here with Hrain?" 

     Folzi peeks his head out of one of the gun ports and notices the other ship sending over dingies. "Bah!" Realizing his plan - that of possibly blowing up both ships - is futile is returns to the main deck. "So are we leaving?" the gnome asks walking off towards the lifeboats.

OOC: Who's getting on the boats, if no one someone has to lower them into the water! 

Niska has the boats loaded with food and the seeming sailor children and looks expectantly at the party.

"Please come with us," Niska implores looking over the party as the children however remain quiet under her strict instructions not to ruin the illusion by speaking!

Nicknack drags two lines over to the edge of the deck near the lifeboats. "Hrain - Pat - we will need your strength to lower these boats safely. Once they're lowered, you can climb down these ropes and join us below. Your quest does not end here - not you, young Captain -- and not you, old warrior. Folzi and Lyra and I -- we need your strength and your wisdom. We didn't escape the Wastes only to watch you waste your lives here." After setting the two lines so the paladins can climb down them after lowering the lifeboats, the wizard joins his gnomish companion near the boats, waiting and tapping his little foot against the deck.

Father Pat looks at the boats and says "I'm still worried that once we leave on these boats, the pirates or whatever they are will fire on them." He looks down at Niska and ask "is there a small dinghy that the Captain and I here could use to make our getaway, assuming that he is in agreement with this, once you have all reached a safe distance?" Father Pat then turns to Hrain and says "what say you Captain? Do we let the others get to a safe distance before we leave the ship?"

As Hrain is pondering his suggestion, he starts to rig the tackle for lowering the boats with Niska, the children and the others in them.

"There is no safe distance, I say we flee with the others or we do not retreat at all. I do not think even we two can triumph over their entire crew so I say we lower the boats and then climb down after them. If they follow us, then they will catch or destroy us, without Niska and the help of the youngsters we cannot use the ship properly anyway, so it is pointless to try." Hrain shakes his head "I cannot believe it has come to this, again and again we are thwarted in our plans. Enough of this, let us move."

Father Pat says "works for me!" He places an arm around Hrain's shoulders and says "if there is one thing I've learned in my long life it is that the Gods are never satisfied with our efforts and test us time and time again!" He then proceeds to finish rigging the boats.

     "You all sure about this?" Folzi says looking to the two paladins. "I mean I could still blow up this boat." The gnome cackles as he climbs into the life boat.

Father Pat says looking sideways at Hrain and then at Folzi "blowing up the boat, particularly with the slavers on board, does have some merit you know?!"

"I don't think all the pirates are getting off one boat to the other. Unless your explosion can take out both is it worth the risk when we're literally rowing away," Niska warns.

      Folzi looks excited that his idea was at least entertained by someone, but reason then comes to him. "As much as I want to cause a little havoc with these ********, she's right. That other boat would just run down anyone trying to get away. I'd hate to see these kids get hurt... I suppose." He gives a wink to Niska.

Wondering why everyone keeps leaving the cannon deck all of a sudden, Lyra finally makes her way up to the top deck, where - much to her surprise of course - finds the adults arguing. She picks up the last few exchanges and decides to stumble into the conversation as well. "Folzi isnt wrong, we still have the element of surprise on our side. You know, being sent to the camps was somehow still okay because it was known there were at least some decent people there. I mean, it still sucked, but it wasnt just all nutjobs taking care of you - no offense..." she says, with a apologizing look over to Pat and Hrain. "But being taken hostage by some slavers at the end of the world? I shamelessly admit i dont feel like being sold for a penny and a dime, and i honestly doubt that leaving in those dingies would result in anything else. So lets think about our situation for a second. They seem to be quite intent on taking this ship. If we manage to get Niska and the kids on the water in time, we can definitely blow up the part of their crew that is rowing over to seize our ship. They're pretty damn vulnerable on their way here, and i doubt they would dare firing on us while they have their on people in the water. Anyways, should things get messy and this ships about to sink, we can simply beam us over to there deck, either before we go down, or while they try conquering us here after losing the battle. I can teleport at least one other person with me, two would work as well but take a little longer. So it kind of depends whether you still got some juice left Nick, but i'd prefer to try and sink these Bastards into the ice-cold sea, maybe even steal their ship, rather then believe thei wont chase down our bunch in the dingies once they have both ships for themselves.

Farther Pat looks excited that somebody else wants to take the fight to the Pirates/Slavers.